How To Beat The Heat

Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. Reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities.

Get plenty of rest to allow your natural "cooling system" to work. If you must do strenuous work, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning, before 7 a.m.

Avoid too much sunshine. Sunburn slows the skin's ability to cool itself. The sun will also heat the inner core of your body, resulting in dehydration. Use a sunscreen lotion with a high sun protection factor rating.

Stay indoors as much as possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine. Even in the warmest weather, staying indoors, out of the sunshine, is safer than long periods of exposure to the sun.

Dress appropriately. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, lightcolored clothing that will cover as much skin as possible. Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight and helps maintain normal body temperature. Cover as much skin as possible to avoid sunburn and over-warming effects of sunlight on your body.

Drink plenty of fluids, even if you do not feel thirsty. Injury and death can occur from dehydration, which can happen quickly and unnoticed. Water is the safest liquid to drink during heat emergencies. Your body needs water to keep cool.

NEVER leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach over 140 degrees within minutes. Exposure to such high temperatures can kill in minutes.